Save
I discovered this dish during a short-lived attempt at healthy eating, but these bowls definitely stuck around. Watching salmon turn golden while my kitchen gets filled with the aroma of scratch-made teriyaki sauce, I can't forget why this became my go-to "I want something that's both good for me and tastes incredible" meal.
The Essential Components
So, you'll need a few key items:
Premium salmon - this isn't where to save money
Seasonal veggies - grab what looks fresh
Perfectly ripe avocado - don't rush this
Quality rice - it's your base layer
DIY sauce - worth the extra effort
About that sauce? I wasn't convinced at first. Always bought pre-made until I ran out one evening and had to mix my own. Can't ever go back now. It's like comparing boxed mac and cheese to homemade - totally different game.
Save
The Assembly Strategy
Here's what I learned - getting the salmon just right can make or ruin this entire dish. Took me ages to realize that too much marinating time makes it oddly soft, too little and it's just plain dull. These days I give it exactly twenty minutes, just enough time to prepare the rice and slice everything else.
Temperature Tricks
Seriously, your air fryer works wonders here:
Creates super crispy edges
Leaves the inside juicy
Cooks in just minutes
Makes tidying up a breeze
Keeps moisture locked in
Used to bake it until my friend let me borrow her air fryer. Never went back to the oven. Still haven't returned her air fryer, come to think of it.
Crafting Your Bowl
The key is timing everything properly:
Rice should be steaming
Salmon needs to sit but stay warm
Slice avocado right before serving
Don't let sauce cool down
Sprinkle fresh herbs at the end
Keeping It Fresh
Let's be honest - they taste best right away, but sometimes you need to plan ahead:
Store components individually when prepping
Add avocado only when eating
The salmon tastes fine chilled
Sauce keeps for weeks
Rice warms up nicely with a bit of water
Save
Satisfying Finish
I served these to my mother-in-law recently. She wanted the instructions, which if you've dealt with in-laws before, counts as a total win. That's the beauty of tasty food - it sometimes even improves tricky family relationships.
One last tip - always make more sauce than you think you'll need. You'll be glad when you're pouring it over scrambled eggs and roasted veggies later in the week.
Recipe FAQs
- → Are there alternative ways to cook salmon?
- Of course! Bake it at 400°F for 7-9 minutes or grill for roughly 10 minutes total.
- → Can I change up the bowl ingredients?
- Absolutely, swap veggies to your liking or use cauliflower rice for fewer carbs.
- → Is the sauce something I can prepare ahead?
- Sure, the teriyaki sauce can be made days in advance and chilled in the fridge.
- → What makes this gluten-free?
- You'll just need gluten-free soy sauce for the teriyaki mix.
- → How do I switch to a vegetarian version?
- You can replace the salmon with air-fried tofu tossed in the teriyaki glaze.